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October 29, 2014 <br /> Lutheran College continues to expand its presence in downtown Everett, <br /> with plans for student housing to open by next fall. <br /> After being stalled by the economic downturn, several major <br /> developments are gathering speed throughout the city. The Riverfront <br /> Development has received all major approvals and site work is underway <br /> on Everett's newest neighborhood, which will ultimately feature 235 <br /> single-family homes, 190 townhomes, a retail center, trails, open space <br /> and recreation areas. <br /> Next door to City Hall, work has begun on the Courtyard by Marriott hotel, <br /> a much-needed quality option for business travelers and visitors to the <br /> arena and events center. The 156-room hotel will open in summer 2016. <br /> Further west, we welcomed the Hampton Inn in July, where rooms were <br /> booked solid immediately upon opening. Work continues on exciting new <br /> housing throughout our downtown, further enhancing our active and <br /> walkable city core. <br /> I'm looking forward to other major projects on the horizon, including the <br /> year-round farmers market, and the Port's revamped Waterfront Place <br /> project. The farmers market, with 47,000 square feet of retail space and <br /> 220 market-rate apartments, is changing the landscape of downtown <br /> Everett. When it opens next spring, it will become a regional destination <br /> and an innovative direct market and incubator for the area's small <br /> farmers. <br /> The Port reworked the Waterfront Place project and is now moving <br /> forward plans for a unique 65-acre attraction that will greatly enhance our <br /> waterfront. The mixed-use development will feature housing, medium-size <br /> business pads, and trails and open space to provide more public access <br /> to one of our most-treasured assets. <br /> Commitment to strong fiscal management <br /> While we are encouraged by our recent economic good news, we <br /> continue to work hard to shepherd the City's finances and ensure that we <br /> are balanced and stable for the future. This month Standard and Poor's <br /> reaffirmed our AA+ bond rating, an endorsement of our tradition of strong <br /> fiscal management. <br /> 297 <br />